Chapter 51: Chapter Fifty: Divine Ghost Art

Seeing that the two were unharmed, Liu Xiaolou felt greatly relieved and smiled: “If my disciples are in trouble, how can the Sect Master not come?”

Star Dejun rolled his eyes: “What disciples? If you’re going to be precise, I’m the Supreme Sect Master!”

After the jest, Liu Xiaolou briefly informed them of the situation outside, then said: “The Zhou family has sealed the mountain and is conducting a massive search, with experts from the Qingyu Sect overseeing it. These two fellows have ulterior motives, so I followed them in. If they hadn’t been flaunting their Taimu Mountain pedigree, I never would’ve gotten in.”

The tomb chamber was dim; only now did Zhou Qiniang clearly see the figures on the ground, and she gasped: “Lord Lu Er!”

Star Dejun asked: “Someone from the Lu family?”

Zhou Qiniang replied: “The younger brother of Lu Yuanlang, third-rank inner disciple of Taimu Mountain. He often comes to my home at Dongting Lake.”

Star Dejun frowned: “What’s he doing at your place?”

Zhou Qiniang shot him a look: “He’s taken a fancy to Jiuniang. Every time Jiuniang comes, he rushes over the moment he hears the news.”

Star Dejun exhaled in relief: “Not a good sort either. Su Jiuniang? He’s not worthy.”

Liu Xiaolou quickly asked about their plans. Star Dejun said: “This place is hidden. I plan to stay here with Qiniang for a while. Once they give up searching, they’ll leave.”

Liu Xiaolou shook his head vigorously: “Do you know why the Zhou family and Qingyu Sect came straight to Taoyuan? I heard from Lu Er and that Zhang steward that Qingyu Sect has a Divine Ghost Art...”

Before he finished, Zhou Qiniang let out a startled “Ah!” and began fumbling, removing all her hairpins, necklaces, bracelets, and other ornaments from her head, neck, and wrists. She opened the box in her bundle and emptied its contents, muttering frantically: “It’s my fault, it’s my fault... I never thought of this... Where... where did they hide it...”

As she frantically rummaged, she grew near tears.

Liu Xiaolou said: “Auntie Qiniang, don’t panic. This technique only senses a general location—if it were precise, they’d have found you the moment they surrounded the mountain. Besides, I suspect this tomb is deep enough to weaken the sensing. We’re safe for now. Elder, Qingyu Sect’s Divine Ghost Art must have placed something on one of your belongings...”

With a simple explanation, Star Dejun understood: “What thing? How was it placed?”

Zhou Qiniang said: “A spectral phantom. Come help me probe with true qi...”

Liu Xiaolou joined in, searching for a while. Nothing unusual was found on the jewelry. He glanced at Zhou Qiniang’s body and pointed to her, indicating to Star Dejun: “Elder...”

Star Dejun slapped his forehead: “Clothes!”

Zhou Qiniang pointed outside: “You two go out first.”

Star Dejun and Liu Xiaolou left the tomb chamber and waited in the corridor outside. After a short while, they heard Zhou Qiniang shout from within: “Damn it!”

Star Dejun rushed in first; Liu Xiaolou followed, but was shoved back out by Star Dejun: “You stay out!”

“Ah...” Liu Xiaolou realized, and waited outside, growing anxious—until Star Dejun finally emerged and called out: “Done.”

Back in the tomb chamber, Star Dejun shook his head: “Truly damned—it’s her undergarment. That maid of yours, Ping’er, must’ve done it. I’ve always told you she’s untrustworthy!”

Zhou Qiniang’s face flushed crimson: “What are you saying!”

Star Dejun fumed: “Am I wrong? Why weren’t we discovered for so many years? Why did we get found the moment that girl came to you?”

Zhou Qiniang stamped her foot: “No—”

Liu Xiaolou interrupted: “Enough. Forget it. We found it—that’s what matters. Toss it in the coffin. We’ll escape much easier now.”

Zhou Qiniang said: “Still not safe. Xiao Lou, didn’t you say Qingyu Sect’s people are here too? If we leave, they might use the Spirit Capture Art.”

Liu Xiaolou said: “They already have. And the Mountain God has manifested.”

Star Dejun was baffled again: “I know about the Mountain God manifestation. What’s this Spirit Capture Art?”

Zhou Qiniang explained again. Star Dejun groaned: “Your Qingyu Sect has so many ghostly tricks... What do we do now?”

Liu Xiaolou was speechless: “Elder, Auntie Qiniang, I thought you’d prepared for three months—you’d have planned better than this? You eloped without even understanding the risks? Forget it. There’s a way around the Spirit Capture Art. That Zhang steward carries a jade tablet that can conceal form. We just need to avoid the manifested Mountain God on the peak.”

Liu Xiaolou took the jade tablet from the steward’s body and the Taimu Mountain Lu family token from Lord Lu Er’s waist. He urged Star Dejun and Zhou Qiniang to change clothes. Star Dejun donned the steward’s garments; Zhou Qiniang tore off Lu Er’s long robe, draped it over herself, untied her hair, restyled it simply, and made a crude disguise.

But they still didn’t look convincing. Fortunately, it was night, so there was less need to worry.

From the steward, they found three spirit stones and twenty or thirty taels of silver. Lord Lu Er had nothing. Liu Xiaolou sneered at him, then unsealed their mute points and interrogated them on the spot: “Where did you bury your spirit stones and silver?”

Lord Lu Er’s face fell: “I never carry spirit stones or silver when I travel. But I have them at home! Brother Liu, spare my life—I’ll return to the mountain and bring you twenty spirit stones and three thousand taels! No—thirty spirit stones, five thousand taels!”

The steward was far more defiant, merely cursing Liu Xiaolou, vowing that the thief would pay one day. Liu Xiaolou slapped him several times until his mouth bled and teeth shattered; his curses were too muffled to make out.

Liu Xiaolou was deeply disappointed. He had no time to waste, so he gave up.

Zhou Qiniang hesitated, looking at Lord Lu Er, and asked Star Dejun: “Leave him here?”

Star Dejun saw her softness and said: “We can’t let him go now... Perhaps your people will find him in a day or two.”

Zhou Qiniang sighed and followed Star Dejun out.

Liu Xiaolou brought up the rear, lifted both Lord Lu Er and the steward, and tossed them into the coffin. He jabbed each of their mingmen points with a finger. Their eyes widened at Liu Xiaolou, but no sound came out. Their gazes slowly dimmed, lifeless as dead fish.

Liu Xiaolou had no time to linger. He closed the coffin lid and left the tomb.

It was the darkest hour before dawn. The jade tablet emitted a faint spiritual aura, nullifying the Spirit Capture Art, shielding the three as they left the valley.

They couldn’t take the main path—it was patrolled by those who recognized Lord Lu Er. So they chose a back trail, keeping watch on the towering manifested Mountain God, circling around its blind spots.

Star Dejun knew the mountain paths better than Liu Xiaolou. Without realizing it, they slipped out through a narrow trail in the northwest. The Lu family token wasn’t even needed—they escaped the Taoyuan mountains and slipped free of Qingyu Sect’s and the Zhou family’s blockade.

Star Dejun and Zhou Qiniang planned to flee to Bashu, far from Jingxiang, where Qingyu Sect could not reach them—perfect for hiding.

Liu Xiaolou handed Star Dejun the three spirit stones, the silver, and a sheet of yellow paper: “This journey spans thousands of li. Every extra spirit stone, every extra tael of silver helps. Oh—and this is a secret technique from my Sanxuan Sect. Elder, you must cultivate it. It’s good for your body.”

Star Dejun didn’t refuse: “Then I’ll take it.”

They waved farewell. Liu Xiaolou watched their figures vanish into the night, and suddenly felt a joy he could not name.